Accident Summary
On 13 April 1971, a Piper Cherokee aircraft registered as HB-OLK was involved in an accident at Langenthal airfield. The flight was a private training flight from Birrfeld to Langenthal. After completing a normal traffic pattern, the pilot flew the approach too low, and the aircraft touched down in a field just short of the runway. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The pilot and passengers were uninjured, and no third-party damage occurred.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Piper Cherokee, registration HB-OLK. At the time of the accident, the aircraft weight was 830 kg, and the elevation was 480 meters. The indicated airspeed during landing was 80-85 mph. According to the operating manual, the landing roll distance under these conditions was approximately 200 meters. The runway at Langenthal was 550 meters long, which would have been sufficient for a normal landing.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a valid private pilot license. There was no indication that his health was impaired at the time of the accident flight.
Investigation Findings
The investigation revealed that the stall warning system was functional. The pilot had misjudged the approach, resulting in the approach being too short. The pilot apparently paid insufficient attention to the approach speed and the speed control light. An attempt to extend the approach by applying power came too late.
Conclusion
The accident was attributed to the pilot misjudging the approach and touching down before the runway threshold.